Hi everyone, Just wanted to let you know that Christiane emailed be back finally yesterday morning with some information, and was wondering if she got in touch with you (Diana and Lori) too? I've sent her back an email along with photos and will try to make arrangements. Keep up informed of your progress.

I was going to suggest that if you did not hear back from Essen that you might try using the German forum to see if anyone knew different contact numbers or had any thoughts. I figured someone might be going there for treatment at the moment and might be able to help you.

Wolfgang is that a possibility?

Alan,

Good for you hearing back, please let me know what you find out as to cost.

I have not tried to contact Essen since I have an appointment with a radiologist/oncologist this Friday. I will get the cost of the procedure being preformed in Charlotte and then decide. I have a deductible of $2500 and then a max out of pocket per year of another $2000.00 So I know the worse case is $4500.00 out of pocket. (If they choose to cover it) I will get the procedure codes on Friday and meet with their insurance manager to hopefully figure it out. I know they told me they could give me their exact charges but not the charges for the hospital. I can also see the radiologist at their local center and that might be less expensive than having the procedure done in a hospital.

Christiane from Essen finally emailed me too! YAY! She did state in her email that Dr. Seegenschmiedt would NOT be doing the radiation. Hopefully I can talk to her and find out more about who will do it, the cost, and when I can get in, (and get a plane ticket etc.).

Thanks Lori for the Human Resources idea. I contacted the HR department at my husband's work and he thought that my doctor had made an error in referring me to an "out of network" radiation oncologist. There are 3 about 40 miles from where I live that are "in network" so potentially I can meet with one of them and get more information.

I still think I would prefer going to Germany to have the procedure done as they have more experience I believe.

Diana / Lori, Good to hear from you both. Diana, I was told the same thing about Dr. Seegenschmiedt not doing the therapy, but I still believe they are much more familiar with this than other places I have read about. I will keep you posted. If you find a cost or details on good places to stay, pass them on. If everything goes well I will be trying to get there by early to mid June.

I did get the book that Dr. Seegenschmiedt was contributor/editor too "Radiotherapy for Non-Malignant Disorders" from our local library (book transfers are great!) Nice to see there are many positive results going back to 1955 for this type of therapy. Looks like the book came from a technical college in Kentucky.....glad to see some interest here in the US.

Australia Calling,You should be aware ESSEN is the centre for Industry MESSE.(Trade Fairs ) generally ever week and sometimes accommodation is difficult ,during the week days. However, should you require single accomodation Christine does have options ,within the hospital at reasonable rates. I travelled with my wife and stayed at a Hotel An der Gruga ,which gave a discount. Recommended from Christine -Alfried Krupp Krankenhaus.(hospital) tel +49201841180 www.grugahotel.de (Cost from 128 Euro including breakfast ) (5 minutes walking to hospital.) This may be an option.

I just had an interesting conversation with the Essen Hospital. A woman answered the phone, I said (spelling?) "Spreken ze English?" She said no. I said "Christiane?" She said tomorrow. I said danka and she said bitte. It was pretty funny. Hopefully I can get through tomorrow morning, ask the questions and get an appointment.

I ended up having the appointment today instead of Friday. Bottom line is it is around $14,000, for total services, including a MRI. This is for the hospital and the doctors fees. I imagine if you have no insurance it would be discounted. I have a $2500.00 deductible so will ultimately pay between $3-4,000. it is for treatment for 5 days in a row, skip 6 weeks and back for 5 days.

Something for me to think about and decide.

Diana good to know about the HR. I work with health insurance in my current job and can typically smell insurance "baloney" a long way off. I figured that you just got out of sync in the process. This radiologist I saw today is 1-1.5 hours away.

I will be curious as to your information from Essen. Since I am self insured I could be paying for this for a long time (elevated premiums) if I use insurance.

Hi Diana Australia Calling, When calling the Hospital ask for Frau Giebels Bitte (please)The staff at the hotel do speak English. The hotel is quiet , excellent breakfast , is 50 metres fro U Bahn , which is 4 stops from the Main station Essen.(Hauptbahnhof.) Should you wish a mud map of the area I can send you an email with an attachment.. Go to My profile-send an email- select the drop down and send me your email address.When I visited Essen I met the Prof ,who did the initial consult , took photos and discussed the options for treatment. The radiologists did the daily treatment using the photos .Finally speak slowly most learnt school English. Regards

Good to hear from you. He believes the MRI will give him a more indepth look of my hand to identify nodules that are just beginning to form. The MRI is best at finding abnormalities like lesions and tumors. Since I am doing the radiation and he says he will only radiate my hand once, we better make sure we get all the areas that show DC. I did ask them today about getting a base line for my left hand through the MRI or an x-ray so that I would have something to compare my left hand to if I notice DC in it.

Who knows Flora, maybe it is just this oncologist/radiologist procedure to use the MRI. I know when I met with the hand surgeon he required an MRI prior to doing the surgery. You had an x-ray? I am attempting to set up the MRI for 5/20th.

Flora, have you seen anywhere on this site if someone has had RT more than once on the same hand? I have searched but can't seem to remember if or did I see something.